The finest rosewood is worth thirty taels of silver, equivalent to Xu Wenda's monthly salary.
Xia Feng thought she was going to hang herself and turned pale with fright: "Miss, please don't..."
"Do you think my young lady is that kind of person?" Chu Jinjin smiled. "Bring me an axe and a tinderbox."
Xia Feng: "..."
She knew what her mistress was going to do.
In the entire Xu household, apart from the people, the only thing that could be decided was the dowry.
This time, Xia Feng didn't need to give any more orders. He gritted his teeth and chopped the stool in two with an axe, startling the servants who were watching him.
This girl is incredibly strong.
Only wood is difficult to ignite.
Chu Jinjin personally brought over the bright red wedding dress.
The Yun brocade, known as "an inch of gold," was made by the best embroiderers, using gold thread, and was worth a thousand taels of silver.
Chu Jinjin lit the paper money like burning paper money, leaving the family members dumbfounded.
The flames quickly blazed up.
Even the most expensive things are nothing but ashes if you don't cherish them.
Chu Jinjin thoughtfully told the servant, "Don't worry, I'll only burn my own things."
Arson is illegal; she's not stupid.
Burning one's own dowry is reasonable and legal, and no one can interfere.
Many daughters of merchants married into official families, bringing with them substantial dowries. Some, with their shrewdness, even managed to replace the daughters of officials and become the matriarch.
When Xu Wenda was pursuing her, her father had concerns.
Although the Xu family had produced a prime minister in their ancestors, they had declined for many years. The head of the family was only a fourth-rank official with no real power. Xu Wenda copied books at the Hanlin Academy. The father and son's salaries, plus the shops left by their ancestors, amounted to at most eight or nine thousand taels of silver a year.
This was clearly insufficient for such a large manor.
Chu Jinjin, however, was open-minded. Given her status, how many men wouldn't be after her money?
Wealthy men often have multiple wives and concubines, as well as countless maids who share their rooms without any official status.
Since one's identity cannot be changed, one can only choose the relatively better one among them.
She made one request to Xu Wenda—that he not take a concubine.
If there was any in the past, deal with it all properly so as not to offend her.
Xu Wenda was the only son in the Xu family this generation, so he naturally bore the heavy responsibility of carrying on the family line, but he agreed without hesitation.
So he must like it.
Rosewood is rosewood; it makes beautiful furniture, but I never imagined it would be so good for burning. The fine oils crackle and pop in the flames, releasing a wonderful aroma.
Chu Jinjin felt a little regretful. Such an unparalleled spendthrift was something she really wanted Xia Feng to go to the kitchen and get some meat skewers or something.
The servants came and went, glancing at the scene before quickly leaving. The steward also arrived, but before he could approach to offer any advice, Xia Feng stopped him.
It's the young lady's own dowry; she can do whatever she wants with it.
Since we've already crossed the line, it doesn't matter anymore.
Just as Chu Jinjin picked up a gilded dressing case, preparing to throw it into the fire, the figure finally appeared at the door.
Xu Wenda was pale, both from the hangover he had suffered the previous night and from the fire in front of him. He glanced at Chu Jinjin and, without a word, ordered the servants to put out the fire.
Chu Jinjin didn't stop her, and sighed, "Oh, you've finally arrived."
Xu Wenda gritted his teeth: "Jinjin, are you crazy?"
Chu Jinjin shrugged and said helplessly, "Anyway, I can't take it with me, right?"
Xu Wenda's expression changed visibly.
Chu Jinjin was still testing the waters.
Although she had a sliver of hope that Xu Wenda would come for love, rather than for a dowry that the entire Marquis's mansion couldn't earn in ten years.
The water extinguished the fire, and the woody fragrance disappeared, replaced by a pungent, burnt smell.
The two tacitly agreed to go inside.
Chu Jinjin asked Xia Feng to leave. Once only the two of them were left in the room, she said seriously, "Xu Wenda, you should know what kind of person I am. I promise I won't cry or make a fuss, but you have to answer three questions for me."
Xu Wenda nodded decisively: "Go ahead and ask."
Chu Jinjin stared into his eyes: "First, is something wrong with my family?"
Xu Wenda let out a long sigh: "This is not a problem. You will soon find out that your father may already be gone."
Chu Jinjin clearly heard a buzzing sound in her head: "What did you say?"
Yesterday, her father was unable to personally escort her to her wedding because a batch of silk that had just arrived contained insect eggs. If it wasn't dealt with promptly, it would result in a loss of at least tens of thousands of taels of silver.
It was Chu Jinjin who insisted that he go.
Tell him to go and come back quickly, so he doesn't miss her homecoming.
How did this happen?
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